Cost Of Plant Research Articles

Economic efficiency of energy storage systems for renewable energy power plants integration in the energy system

The features of the main flexibility mechanisms, limitations to their application, and price characteristics have been considered. The advantages of equipping RES-based generation with energy storage devices have been noted. Investment and operating costs of a storage device for 60 kW capacity and their ratio with the corresponding costs of solar power plants have been analyzed. On the basis of model calculations, the change in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) when a solar power plant is supplemented with a storage device has been estimated. It has been shown that equipping a solar power plant with an accumulator, despite high capital costs, will lead to an increase in the electricity cost on average for the entire period of operation by only 3–17 % due to the expected increase in utilization and volume of electricity production, as well as the projected decrease in the cost of accumulators. At the same time, a significant increase in the energy system stability will be ensured. It has been noted that it is necessary to tighten the requirements for the installed capacity utilization rates of power plants and to give priority to projects with storage facilities in the competitive selection of RES generation under capacity supply contract programs.

Optimized Scheduling Model Considering the Demand Response and Sequential Requirements of Polysilicon Production

The polysilicon production process has significant potential to be made adjustable, and actively changing its production schedule to participate in grid dispatch can effectively alleviate the pressure on the power supply and balance demand while promoting renewable energy consumption. Considering the complex inter-coupling relationship between the sequential requirements and adjustable potential of polysilicon production, this paper analyzes the electricity consumption characteristics of various stages of a polysilicon production process that uses the improved Siemens method as its primary approach to production. The interaction between the polysilicon production process, equipment, and materials is modeled through the state–task network method, and the production timing requirements are transformed into constraint expressions. An optimized scheduling model that includes the production’s sequential requirements within a time-of-use electricity pricing context is established. Our analysis shows that the proposed model can formulate a feasible production plan with the lowest power purchase cost for polysilicon plants while meeting the production’s sequential requirements and product order demands.

Energetic and economic advantages of energy communities: a case study referred to a southern Italian town

Energy Districts and Communities are at the heart of EU programs. Nevertheless, several challenges are encountered when bringing into fruition. Their convenience is not fully understood on a small scale, due to the complexity of the start-up practices, which make them more suitable for commercial or industrial companies.In this scenario the present study arises, aimed at pointing out to small communities, at condominium scale, the economic benefits, in terms of Net Present Value (NPV), deriving from the adoption of the new community plant configurations. Such indicator gives a glance of the total cost, both investment and functioning ones, to be sustained during the plant life, together with the enjoyed benefits. Particularly the investment cost is presently a big obstacle to the spread of renewable energy systems whereas the high operative cost of conventional plants is less adequately considered.In this frame, through the paper the satisfaction of the electricity needs of the users of a building, sited in Reggio Calabria (Italy), when their plant configurations turn from single grid-connected into community is analyzed using 2024 tariffs. From the study the economic advantages of the community result, pointing out an NPV increase (€ 3,798), with a consequent reduction of the investment pay-back time for most users. The benefit increases (€ 24,918) when an energy intensive user joins the community. The study also considers a plant configuration equipped with storage, pointing out the reduced grid exchanges: a lower injection of 5.6 MWh and a lower withdrawal of 6.9 MWh. Concerning NPV, despite the batteries cost and their replacement every 10 years, only low reductions are observed, thanks to the great saving obtained by stored energy, that make the investment convenient. In the future the study will be enriched with the analysis of plant configurations that consider aggregation among adjacent buildings.

A study on Activation of Carbon Reduction through Rooftop Greening at Bus Stops

Objectives : Due to climate change, countries around the world, including Korea, are making various efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Among the various reduction methods for achieving carbon neutrality, the utilization of green space through carbon storage and herbaceous plants, which are the only functions, is increasing. However, due to spatial limitations in everyday life, continuous target sites for green space are needed. Accordingly, this study conducted a study on carbon reduction through rooftop greening to activate covered bus stops.Methods : After analyzing the growth of herbaceous plants, a feasible target group was selected and when herbaceous plants were planted on the rooftops of covered bus stops, the carbon reduction figures and construction costs were compared with the same conditions as solar power facilities. The carbon storage amount was calculated on a nationwide basis and the carbon reduction cost per m<sup>2</sup> was analyzed in comparison with the carbon reduction according to solar power facilities.Results and Discussion : The research results showed that the reduction cost of herbaceous plants per m<sup>2</sup> was 53 KRW, and the carbon reduction cost due to solar power installation was about 116 KRW. It was confirmed that herbaceous plants were about twice as cheap as carbon reduction through solar power generation. In addition, the environmental and economic benefits of herbaceous plants were also confirmed to have additional benefits among local communities or surrounding area.Conclusion : Starting with this study, it is expected that it can be used as basic data to realize green space more efficiently in environmental and landscape aspects by increasing the planting ratio of herbaceous plants in order to increase the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> stored (absorbed) in daily life.

Research on the Optimization Strategy of Crop Planting Combining Dynamic Programming and Monte Carlo Simulation

This paper explores the optimization of crop planting strategies by combining dynamic programming with Monte Carlo simulation. In the multi-stage decision-making for planting optimization, we decomposed the optimal planting plans for crops from 2024 to 2030 into annual best planting plans. We established an objective function aimed at maximizing total profit, taking into account factors such as planting area, crop yield, sales price, and planting cost. A series of constraints were also introduced, including that the planting area should not exceed the cultivated land area and that the total crop production should not surpass the expected sales volume. By employing dynamic programming and greedy algorithm models, we utilized the PuLP linear programming library to define problems, add constraints, and invoke solvers to find the optimal solution. The model considered not only the planting costs and sales prices but also treated excess sales volume as waste. In the result analysis phase, we analyzed the cyclical changes in data across different years and observed that the total profit exhibited a certain fluctuation trend. We also conducted error analysis on the potential errors introduced by the greedy algorithm, running the model multiple times to verify the stability of the results and ensure the reliability of the model. Finally, we discussed the complementarity and substitutability between crops, which significantly impact the total income in the actual planting process.

Optimizing seedling production for the conservation of the threatened Dyckia rariflora (Bromeliaceae)

ObjectivesIn vitro seed propagation can enhance plant species growth and enable the rapid production of seedlings while preserving genetic variability. This study aimed to develop in vitro seed propagation and acclimatization protocols for Dyckia rariflora to support conservation efforts of this bromeliad endemic to ferruginous campos rupestres. Seed germination and plant growth were tested using MS (Murashige & Skoog) culture medium with varying salt concentrations, sucrose levels, and the presence or absence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Following these treatments, seedlings were acclimatized after removal from the controlled environment.ResultsGermination rates varied between 65 and 90%, unaffected by treatment. The highest germination speed index was in half MS salts without PVP, while full MS salts, sucrose, and PVP slowed germination. Half MS salts resulted in seedlings with greater height, more leaves, and longer roots. Complete MS salts were less effective. No seed oxidation was observed. After 120 days of acclimatization, survival rates exceeded 70%, with plants in half MS salts and 15 g sucrose showing the best growth. In vitro propagation of D. rariflora is viable for large-scale plant production, with half MS salt and sucrose concentrations, without PVP, recommended for better plant growth and cost reduction.

Research on Crop Planting based on Linear Programming and Multiple Regression Functions

The purpose of this paper is to explore how to optimize crop planting strategies through linear programming and multiple regression functions to help rural revitalization and agricultural modernization. In the study, we consider a variety of factors such as crop planting seasons, plot types, and potential planting risks. By analyzing the crop suitability of different plots and combining constraints such as arable land area limitations and crop rotation requirements, we established a linear programming model with the objective of maximizing economic benefits. At the same time, for the two cases of stagnant and wasteful marketing and selling at a reduced price when the yield exceeds the expectation, binary decision variables are used to find the optimal solution. In addition, this paper uses multiple regression functions to predict the growth rate of sales of major crops such as corn and wheat and predicts the future price growth of edible mushrooms through a gray prediction model (GM (1,1)). In the course of the study, we also discuss the impact of extreme weather due to monsoon climate in the northern region and give the optimal planting scheme based on these perturbation factors. Through gray correlation analysis, this paper further explores the correlation coefficients between planting cost and selling price relative to expected sales volume and combines the principles of complementarity and substitutability to derive the highest yielding planting strategy. Finally, the stability of the model is verified by sensitivity analysis, and its adaptability in other agricultural scenarios is explored.

Identification of a reduced rate combination of a plant growth inhibitor with a plant defense inducer for the management of the shoot blight phase of fire blight.

The secondary shoot blight phase of fire blight is a critical component of disease epidemics in apples, pears, and other Rosaceae family plants with infection occurring at the tips of vigorously growing branches. Shoot blight infections are exacerbated in modern high-density apple plantings, where growers emphasize maximizing tree growth to recapture planting costs and increase yields of high-quality fruit. The overarching goal of this study was to develop new strategies for shoot blight management that do not impact the growth and yield of young apple trees. 'Gala' apple trees of various ages were inoculated with the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Being treated with a combination of reduced rate mixtures of prohexadione calcium (ProCa; 6-12× rate reduction) with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM; 2× reduction) resulted in a significant decrease in shoot blight incidence and severity without significant impacts on branch growth. The systemic spread of E. amylovora was significantly reduced in trees sprayed with these lower-rate mixtures. Comparable rates of either treatment alone were not as effective in reducing lesion length. A transcriptomic analysis revealed a synergistic effect in which the expression of marker genes associated with systemic acquired resistance was higher in apple trees sprayed with the low-rate mixture of ProCa + ASM than with either compound alone. We conclude that the combination of ProCa + ASM at reduced rates is an effective treatment for the shoot blight phase of fire blight without impacting horticultural practices associated with high-density apple production.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC, WEIGHT, AND SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STEAM GENERATORS FOR 1000 MW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT UNITS

A comparative analysis of the technical characteristics and parameters of horizontal and vertical steam generators for reactorinstallations with water coolant in modern 1000 MW NPP power units has been conducted. It is noted that the peculiarities of thedesign schemes and constructions of steam generators in NPP power units with water coolants are significantly influenced by thestrong dependence between the coolant temperature at the steam generator inlet and the pressure in the reactor circuit. Thedependencies of coolant and working substance temperature changes and the amount of heat transferred in steam generatorelements have been considered. The t-Q diagram of a steam generator with a water coolant featuring a non-boiling economizer,evaporator, and superheater is presented. The parameters of water coolants and working substances in nuclear power plant steamgenerators are provided. The t-Q diagram for steam generators without a superheater section is shown, because in modern 1000MW nuclear power plant units with steam generators which use water as the working substance in the steam-turbine cycle,saturated steam without superheating is used. This is because minor superheating of the steam does not significantly increase theefficiency of the steam-turbine cycle but requires significant complexity in the design of the steam generators. It is noted that thecorrect choice of their structural schemes is crucial in the creation of steam generators with water coolants. It has been proven thatthe characteristics determining the structural schemes of steam generators with water coolants are: the scheme of washing the heatexchange surface with the coolant, the form of the heat exchange surface, the layout of steam generator elements, the principle ofworking substance movement, and others. The technical characteristics of a horizontal-type steam generator for 1000 MW nuclearpower plant units are presented, which have proven to be quite effective in operation. However, their designs and characteristicslimit the potential for further improvement of the technical and economic indicators of nuclear power plants. It is noted thatimproving the technical and economic efficiency of 1000 MW nuclear power plant units while simultaneously reducing capitalcosts for their construction is possible by increasing the unit capacity of powerful vertical-type steam generators installed on them.Compared to horizontal steam generators, vertical steam generators allow for a more rational layout of the primary circuitequipment in the reactor department, thus reducing the volume and cost of construction and installation works. The maindimensions and weight characteristics of possible designs of vertical steam generators for nuclear power plants with VVER-1000reactors are provided. It is concluded that once-through vertical steam generators with spiral wound heat exchange tubes and watercoolant in the first circuit tubes weigh approximately 1.5 to 2 times less than vertical steam generators with natural circulation. It isdetermined that once-through vertical steam generators with a hydraulic scheme involving the movement of the working substancein the tubes and the water coolant in the inter-tube space significantly lag behind once-through vertical steam generators with watercoolant in the tubes in terms of dimensional and weight characteristics and also vertical steam generators with natural circulation interms of weight. It is concluded that for VVER-1000 nuclear power plants, the most promising of all options are vertical once-through steam generators with the movement of the water coolant in spiral wound heat exchanger tube bundles. These steamgenerators occupy approximately four times less area in the reactor department than horizontal ones with the same steamproduction, which significantly reduces construction costs for nuclear power plants.

Thermo-economic investigation of transcritical Carbon Dioxide solar-thermal power plants, Part 1: System modeling and simulation for design with validation of results

This study comprises the engineering design and economic assessment of a novel trans-critical-point Carbon Dioxide cycle integrated with a solar Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) power plant. A 1-MW facility with a Rankine transcritical CO2 cycle providing combined heat and power for a small industrial facility in Texas was proposed as the baseline power plant to perform the analysis. A design and modeling effort was performed in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) for the many systems and components of the power plant, including the solar field, the power block, and sub-components such as turbomachinery and heat exchangers. The model created enabled the simulation of plant performance for the median day of each month in the year by inputting meteorological TMY3 data, and results were extrapolated to estimate the annual energy and monetary income yield. Data processing was performed with MATLAB. Economic analysis included estimation of capital and O&M costs for the baseline plant. Results were verified through empirical performance simulation, using System Advisor Model (SAM), a software provided by NREL. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the modeled plant was $0.2915/kWh, as calculated with EES/MATLAB, and $0.305/kWh, as calculated with SAM, resulting in a difference of less than 5%, between the two different simulation approaches. The design and simulation work presented herein provides the means to perform an optimization analysis, which reveals important clues as to how the energy cost could be reduced so as to make this technology a competitive alternative within the energy market.

Multi-Stakeholder Game Relationships in Promoting the Development of the Non-Timber Forest Product Industry by State-Owned Forest Farms

State-owned forest farms are key players in managing forestry resources worldwide, playing a pivotal role in advancing the development of the non-timber forest product industry. This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving “government–state-owned forest farms–farmer households” to delve into how state-owned forest farms collaborate with governments and farmer households to propel the growth of the non-timber forest product industry. Additionally, it explores the interactive relationships among multiple stakeholders and their asymptotic stability. The findings reveal that (1) under certain conditions, the game model can achieve four stable equilibrium strategies: (0,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,1,1), and (1,1,1). (2) Key factors influencing the tripartite game include the political performance and administrative costs of local governments involved in the industry’s development, assessment performance and reduced management and protection expenses of state-owned forest farms, and sales revenue and planting costs of farmers’ under-forest products. (3) The market development costs shared by state-owned forest farms and government subsidies for under-forest planting should be within a reasonable range. This ensures effective promotion of farmers’ participation in under-forest planting while maintaining the willingness of state-owned forest farms and governments to actively engage. These findings provide concrete guidelines that policymakers can use to spur sustainable growth in the NTFP sector.

Aspects of commercialization of small nuclear power plants in Russia and Mongolia

Subject. The article considers prospects for the development of nuclear energy, global problems of energy supply. Objectives. The aim is to identify the socio-economic efficiency of creation and operation of low-power nuclear power plants. Methods. The study employs methods of systems, comparative, structural, and logical analysis. Results. We analyzed prospects for the operation of low-power nuclear power plants, revealed their advantages and disadvantages, proposed recommendations to increase the level of usefulness and reduce the cost of low-power nuclear power plants. Conclusions. Small-scale nuclear power plants have the potential to provide a more sustainable and secure energy future for the world.

Impact of low temperature on bacterial community dynamics and process efficiency in anaerobic ammonia removal: A network analysis of metagenomic data

The implementation of anaerobic ammonia removal has potential for reducing the operating costs in wastewater treatment plants. However, the application of this process in mainstream treatment presents various challenges, particularly due to the sensitivity of anammox bacteria to low temperatures. To address these challenges, changes in the bacterial community were investigated under decreasing temperatures (from 30 to 12 °C) within a deammonification process conducted in a 10-L sequencing batch reactor (SBR) over a period of 114 days. The aim of the study was to determine which groups of microorganisms are most strongly linked by ecological relationships with anammox bacteria and how these relationships change in response to decreasing temperature. Community dynamics were analyzed by combining metagenomics, network analysis, and specific process rates. The nitrification process was most efficient at 25 °C, as indicated by high values of the ammonia and nitrite utilization rate, and nitrate production rate, all of which declined as the temperature decreased. In contrast, the activity and abundance of anammox bacteria remained stable throughout all phases of the experiment. The decreasing temperature negatively impacted Nitrospira bacteria, the main competitors of anammox in the deammonification system. Despite the reduced process efficiency, the SBR maintained stable functionality even at temperatures as low as 12 °C. Network analysis identified which bacterial groups most frequently co-occurred and interacted, as well as those most sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Among the bacterial nodes, Nitrospira, Phycisphaerae, and Prosthecobacter exhibited the highest degree of connectivity, suggesting that they participate in multiple interactions, such as metabolite exchange, cooperation, or competition. Nevertheless, the temperature node had a greater number of connections than any bacterial node, indicating that this environmental factor had a more important effect on microbial community formation than direct ecological relationships. These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the role of anammox bacteria in deammonification systems, their ecological interactions within microbial networks, and their activity under suboptimal temperature conditions, which is crucial for future practical applications.

Regulators for ensuring the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing

The necessity of developing a system of regulators to ensure the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing is substantiated. An assessment of the efficiency of fruit production in the Russian Federation is given. The factors influencing the decrease in the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing are identified: an increase in the cost of purchased resources; high cost of finished products; a reduction in the share of subsidies in the created cost of planting; the insufficiency of agricultural producers’ own financial resources for carrying out planned plantings renovations, updating production infrastructure funds and carrying out current production activities. Functional imbalances in the organization of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing have been identified: internal structural imbalances, high resource intensity of production and technological processes, non-compliance with optimal comparability of production and economic indicators. Generalizing criteria for the sustainability of reproductive processes are systematized: the ability of the system to withstand negative impacts of an economic and natural nature; increasing the possibilities of expanded reproduction of all used resources; ensuring qualitative changes in the production, socio-economic, environmental parameters of the system; increasing the conditions for subsequent improvements, preventing production declines. The article characterizes and evaluates the effectiveness of existing regulators to ensure the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing (macroeconomic, technical, technological and economic). A system of regulators has been developed to ensure the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing in functional areas of influence. An algorithm is proposed to substantiate the necessary dimensionality of regulators to ensure the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing.

Multiobjective Spatial Optimization Framework for Determining the Optimal Degree of Decentralization for Nonpotable Water Reuse in Existing Cities: A Case Study of Hong Kong.

Investing in nonpotable water reuse (NPWR) is essential for circular urban water management. Existing research lacks methods to determine the number and capacities of NPWR plants (i.e., degree of decentralization) for large-scale applications in existing cities. We developed a spatial optimization framework in which the degree of decentralization emerges from the collective decisions of urban districts regarding where to send wastewater for reclamation and where to source water for nonpotable uses. We modified the genetic algorithm to optimize collective decisions with objectives including minimizing freshwater withdrawal, electricity consumption, and the cost of NPWR plants. Optimization results suggest an optimal number from one to eight among Pareto optimal solutions, with two to three being most common in Hong Kong. The cost-effective solutions suggest locations of NPWR plants in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island where NPWR demand is significant, while the electricity use for freshwater and seawater is high. The city could save about 6% freshwater and 29.4% seawater while consuming 20.7% more electricity. Overall, our spatial optimization framework provides a holistic evaluation of the optimal degree of decentralization for NPWR at the water-energy-cost nexus on an urban scale. Our findings serve as a benchmark to explore more energy-conscious planning strategies in Hong Kong.

Strategic cultivar and sowing time selection for weed management and higher redgram productivity in semi-arid Indian regions

IntroductionRedgram (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.), a leguminous crop commonly grown in tropical and subtropical climates, is highly valued for its high protein content (21%), which contributes significantly to food and nutritional security. However, its production faces challenges primarily due to terminal dryness experienced during critical growth stages because of changing rainfall patterns. To overcome this, adaptive techniques become imperative as the productivity of this crop is intricately linked to environmental factors and the crop’s growth cycle.MethodsHence, the field experiment was conducted at the National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, in South India under rainfed condition, during the kharif (monsoon) seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19. The primary objectives were to determine the optimal sowing time and identify suitable redgram cultivars, especially in the context of the late onset of the monsoon in Tamil Nadu, a common issue under changing climate conditions. The experiments tested six different sowing dates with three redgram cultivars.Results and discussionThe findings highlighted the substantial influence of different redgram cultivars and sowing times on the crop’s growth characteristics and yield. Among the six sowing dates tested, planting in later half of June (S6) resulted in notably higher plant height (201 cm), a greater number of pods per plant (287), a seed yield of 1,112 kg ha−1, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.61 Notably, this sowing period (S6) demonstrated comparable performance with the treatment of redgram sowing in the latter part of September (S4). CO 6 (V1) is the most productive of the three redgram cultivars, with the highest mean pant height (200 cm), number of pods per plant (237), grain yield (1,017 kg ha−1), and benefit cost ratio (2.38). Extended phenological phases along with extra days to reach phenological stages could account for the increased yield in comparison to the other cultivars. Among the two short-duration cultivars, VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) had a significantly higher mean grain yield of 958 kg ha−1 with the benefit-cost ratio of 2.24. Even though CO 6 (V1) obtained a higher yield due to its long duration nature, it matured in 187 days whereas VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) matured within 129 days. Consequently, the short-duration redgram cultivars emerge as highly suitable choices for integrating into crop sequences, thereby augmenting farm cropping intensity.

Echoes of Speculation Underway in Relations Between the Occident and China

In a previous article I talked about speculative waves in sequence that have hit the global economy since the 2000s in a world struggling with deflation. Well, this wave of speculation has not stopped but today it seems to concern the transfer of industrial plants from the West to China. A process that was born with the good intentions of transferring industrial activities to developing countries with the dual objective. Give a boost to the economy in developing areas and at the same time reduce the management costs of large multinationals' plants. A process therefore that was born with a positive sign in the intent to help a coordinated development of the territories and a reduction in the costs of industrial products. Meanwhile, the objective of coordinating the development of the territories and continents has not been achieved and on the contrary the process has led to an almost exclusive delocalization of industrial production from the West to China. The excess of industrial localization has exacerbated the concentration of unassimilable waste with a worsening of the disease of the planet struggling with atmospheric overheating. The process, therefore, has been slowed down but not stopped for natural reasons. On the other hand, the acceleration of the development of the Chinese economy has also marked a halt coinciding with the spread of the global epidemic. After about fifty years of accelerated economic growth, the Chinese community has sensed the change in the country's economic prospects and has pulled the brakes on both consumption and investments, marking the end of the accelerated race on the road to development. The picture of the speculative evolution of industrial delocalization processes sees together the interest of mega companies in reducing management costs which is congenial to the increase in the financial values of companies that increase on the Western stock exchanges. In other words, delocalization helps reduce management costs and at the same time seems to support ultra increasing financial values. In short, it plays into the hands of speculation which is certainly not the interest of global social and economic development which instead requires coordination of the territories on the road to development. With the further dilemma that the fate of the global economy may be in the hands of the Boards of Directors of mega companies and not of states and communities.​

Investment cost analysis in small hydropower plants in terms of efficiency and a case study in the Euphrates and Tigris basins

Flow rate is the basic parameter for calculating the energy capacity and investment costs of small hydropower plants. Because energy costs are directly related to energy capacity. While the energy capacity increases, the investment cost of the hydropower plant increases also. However, if the energy capacity is high, the energy production will be high and the investment cost will be amortized in a short time. In this study, small rivers in the Euphrates and Tigris Basins with previously determined hydropower capacities were selected, and the investment costs of small hydroelectric power plants to be designed on these rivers were analysed. For this analysis, 10 streams were selected from the Euphrates and Tigris Basins, and only Baskoy and Celebiyan streams have flow observation stations. The flow values of the remaining 8 streams were found by regression analysis using the basin and flow values of Baskoy and Celebiyan streams. Therefore, cost–benefit analyses were carried out separately for these flows in this study. In this study, because it includes the most effective hydrological parameters as well as many technical and economical parameters, the SMART Mini Hydro Tool Program was used.

A Surrogate Model Approach to Predict Operations and Maintenance Cost for Combined Cycle Power Plant

Abstract In the transition toward carbon neutrality by 2050, renewable energy sources are gaining prominence. The variability of renewable energy poses challenges for power grid stability. Gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants play a crucial role in grid stabilization, especially during peak loads. In GTCC power generation, operations and maintenance (O&M) cost is the next most important after fuel and initial investment cost, and it is necessary to predict O&M cost according to changes in the operating environment for efficient and stable operation of GTCC power plant. However, various uncertainties exist when estimating O&M costs because actual design information is limitedly disclosed due to maintenance contracts between operators and manufacturers, and it is difficult to obtain accurate variables according to the operation condition. In this paper, the correlation was analyzed considering the uncertainty of the factors affecting the O&M cost of the GTCC power plant through sensitivity analysis, and the main factors were defined. In addition, a surrogate model was proposed that can quickly calculate fixed and variable O&M cost according to changing operating scenarios such as shortening startup time, enhancing ramp rate, or lower minimum load. Through the case study, short-term and long-term O&M costs can be estimated in the operating environment of the GTCC power plant currently being operated. Additionally, the model facilitates cost projections for new hybrid GTCC facilities (combining gas turbines with energy storage systems), aiding long-term investment planning.

Examination of the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in Turkish Legislation

Population growth, industrialization and technological advances increase the demand for energy. Due to problems such as global warming, environmental pollution and destruction, the trend towards alternative energy sources continues on a global scale. For this reason, the use of nuclear energy, one of the secondary energy sources, has tended to increase in recent years. Reasons such as the geographically uneven geographical distribution of resources that are raw materials for energy among countries and their exhaustibility, fluctuations in energy prices and the economical production of nuclear energy are among the reasons why countries in the world turn to nuclear energy. A number of accidents at nuclear power plants have had a negative impact on the perception of nuclear power plants, but for different reasons, nuclear energy is gaining popularity again. Nuclear power plants are the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to nuclear power, but it is also used effectively in medical treatments and applications of various branches of science as well as energy production. In global energy production; the fact that it aims to reduce carbon emissions by providing more energy production within the scope of sustainability, the continuous and uninterrupted continuation of electricity production using nuclear, the production of electricity at more affordable costs in nuclear power plants compared to other power plants (thermal, renewable, etc.), the fact that greenhouse gas emissions are almost negligible, and the use of nuclear technology in many fields such as physics, medicine, transportation, agriculture as well as energy production have made nuclear energy back on the agenda of countries in recent years. In nuclear energy, nuclear waste and their storage processes continue to be discussed as a problem in this process. For these reasons, the possibility of peaceful use of nuclear power has been questioned in academic platforms and various criteria have been determined This article examines Turkey's compliance with the criteria for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and clarifies the development process in this regard. Turkey's legislation on nuclear energy, international conventions, nuclear safety, radiation control criteria and compliance with national legislation will be examined.